The penultimate episode of MTV The Exhibition: In Search of the Next Great Artist was the one who may have made this arduous journey worthwhile. I wouldn’t call it a 10/10, but it was definitely more engaging than the fourth episode that almost put me to sleep sat. I think the show’s editors finally ignited the spark of insane reality TV fun combined with educational content and even highlighted some much-needed humorous moments.
This week’s challenge allowed artists to select one of their previous works that best described their skills and focus at the time and reinterpret it to show how their practices have evolved and what the future holds. While this “commission” was giving a home test for undergraduate art school applications, I think every artist actually knocked this one out of the park in an interesting and even exciting way. The guest judges for episode five were sculptor and installation artist Abigail DeVille and Hirshhorn administrator, collector and retired NFL player Keith Rivers.
While the competitive element remained absent, the fifth episode was infused with tangible chemistry between performers and judges. The bar was pretty low, but there were actually some fun interactions that brought the show to life. At one point during studio time, the judges visited Jillian Mayer as she had her head buried under a blanket to record a sound sequence for an interactive part of her setup that was both ridiculous and relatable. Misha Kahn was also running around like a headless chicken for the last hour on the job, but I haven’t decided if I’m laughing at him or with him yet. Probably a bit of both…
Baseera Khan reinterpreted one of their works entitled “Air Duct”, choosing to consider the internal structure of the human body rather than that of a building. Khan’s commission referenced the changes and anxieties that come with the large ovarian cyst they were diagnosed with by using space and equipment to apply suffocating pressure to human “skin” made of foam. As a “cyst” myself (two ruptured ovarian cysts, one surgically removed), Khan’s commission definitely touched me in terms of conveying this specific anxiety of not knowing when the next cyst might suddenly appear, causing an immediate onset of blinding pain that has been compared to a ruptured appendix. There really is a palpable pressure from the cyst pressing against the inside of the person which is also a largely overlooked and ignored symptom.
Jennifer Warren actually did a finished-looking painting and it was half-decent, though her portrayal of technological frustration does strike me as a bit Boomer-y. Most importantly, she had enough time to help Misha this episode, so maybe she finally learned to manage her time and paint her expectations before it was too late.
Misha’s commission revisited a clay video he made when he was about 10 years old that I found really sweet. Having taught art to this age group, I’m so grateful that my parents kept almost all of my art from elementary school to revisit and map my sustained interests, so it was very nice to see it think about that. I think his virtual reality works are less frivolous and less marked than his inflatable projects and other installations, allowing us to see more of himself rather than that ostentatious and exaggerated character he adopts when occupying a physical space rather than emotional.
While this is an immeasurable improvement over the first four episodes, the show’s editors are still pretty tough on hinting at who would earn the commission through the cutaway interviews and the focus of the show. camera. I was also less inclined to laugh at the really funny stuff in this episode because everyone on the show almost laughed maniacally when it happened – almost like when your parent tells you to clean your room while you’re on the point of doing it and because they said something you don’t want to do anymore out of petulant annoyance. All things considered, it was a decent last stop before the end of an extremely niche and largely disappointing trip, and I really have no idea who will walk away with the prize next week.
